1a.Objectives (from AD-416)
The objective of the proposed research is to develop new knowledge on the ecology and biology of biological control agents of cereal aphids.

1b.Approach (from AD-416)
We will assess the effectiveness of key biological control agents in traditional and emerging small grain crop production systems and elucidate the intra- and extra-field processes that influence their population dynamics. More specifically, we will: (1) elucidate the effect of landscape factors on the population dynamics of the key greenbug parasitoid, Lysephlebus testaceipes; and (2) elucidate the effect of co-occurring cereal aphids on parasitism of greenbug by Lysephlebus testaceipes.

3.Progress Report

During FY 2011 we conducted a field experiment in which we measured parasitism rates in 24 production winter wheat fields in central and north central Oklahoma. We quantified landscape structure for each of the fields and determined grass species richness and abundance in the field border for each field. The research progresses towards understanding and quantifying the effect of extra-field processes on parasitism by L. testaceipes on cereal aphids in wheat fields.
The ADODR monitored activities via periodic phone calls, e-mails, and brief written reports from the collaborator.